Pre-salt fields discovered in offshore Brazil require flexible pipe structures capable of reaching water depths of 2,000 meters and beyond.
Over the past decades carbon fiber technology has been widely used in a number of industries and is now ready for introduction to the flexible pipe industry. As a demonstration of what will be possible with composite materials in the near future, this paper will present the benefits of Carbon Fiber Composite armors and why it will be a game changer.
For example, this technology dramatically increases the achievable range in free hanging riser configurations, resulting in optimization of ancillary equipment and faster installation. Furthermore, the fatigue performance and corrosion resistance result in a higher safety factor with improved product service life.
A comprehensive qualification campaign, including prototype testing at conditions more severe than the pre-salt field specification, has resulted in a new design of flexible pipe using Carbon Fiber Composite that can be considered a qualified technology.
The present paper will focus on the carbon fiber integration within flexible pipe technology. We will go a step after the other from the material qualification tests, to the carbon fiber armors demonstrated fatigue performances, and in the end in the flexible pipe design and manufacturing.
